The Flavonoid Kurarinone Regulates Macrophage Functions via Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and Alleviates Intestinal Inflammation in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Main Authors: Xu X, Dong Q, Zhong Q, Xiu W, Chen Q, Wang J, Zhou Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-09-01
• Series: Journal of Inflammation Research
• Subjects: aryl hydrocarbon receptor; irritable bowel syndrome; macrophage; kurarinone; flavonoid
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/the-flavonoid-kurarinone-regulates-macrophage-functions-via-aryl-hydro-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-JIR

Xiang Xu,1,* Qiwei Dong,1,* Qingling Zhong,2 Wenbo Xiu,1,2 Qinyuan Chen,1,2 Jinxia Wang,1 Zhou Zhou1,2 1Clinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhou ZhouClinical Immunology Translational Medicine Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Fax [phone]Email [e-mail]: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized with abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits, and dealing with IBS is still a clinical challenge. The pathogenesis of IBS has been reported to be linked to low-grade mucosal inflammation, and macrophages contribute to the pathological process of this disease. Kurarinone (KAR), a flavanoid derived from Sophora flavescens, has been found medically effective in many inflammatory conditions and cancers. KAR was previously reported to inhibit LPS-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages, whether and how KAR regulates the functions of macrophage in IBS remains to be elusive.Methods: We established a TNBS-induced IBS mouse model, in which KAR was administrated, and mucosal cytokine expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Additionally, mouse macrophages were generated in vitro and their responses to LPS were evaluated by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. AhR+/+ or AhR−/- macrophages were transferred into DTx-treated CD11b-DTR transgenic mice to investigate the role of AhR in IBS. We collected colonic biopsies and peripheral blood samples from 64 patients with IBS, and analyzed AhR expression by qRT-PCR.Results: We found KAR effectively alleviated visceral hypersensitivity and maintained intestinal barrier functions in mice with IBS. KAR inhibited LPS-induced macrophage activation and expression of pro-inflammatory genes, while increased anti-inflammatory gene expression including IL-10 in an AhR-dependent manner. Using macrophage-depleted mice, we found that chimera mice with AhR−/- macrophages were more susceptible to TNBS-induced IBS and the therapeutic effect of KAR on IBS was significantly impaired in mice with AhR−/- macrophages. Additionally, we found AhR expression in macrophages of IBS patients was associated with the disease severity.Conclusion: Our findings provide new evidences that KAR regulates IBS development via macrophage-intrinsic AhR. KAR might show promise as an immunomodulatory therapeutic agent in treating IBS.Keywords: aryl hydrocarbon receptor, irritable bowel syndrome, macrophage, kurarinone, flavonoid